Field Notes
With the addition of nine new affiliates in August and September, Habitat for Humanity has 1,578 affiliates in the United States (including the District of Columbia, the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) and also is represented in 75 other countries. In addition, there are 632 campus chapters in the United States and 13 countries around the world.


CENTRAL ATLANTIC
(District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia): Sandra Graham, PO Box 1712, Easley, SC 29641, (864) 855-8775.

Ground was broken last September on the U.S. Senators Build to kick off the “Houses the Senate Built” effort. The build is the result of Senate Resolution 319, which passed unanimously and calls for each senator to build at least one Habitat house in his or her state by the end of 2001. A day for the entire Senate to frame and raise the walls on two houses in Maryland is planned for the spring.

Students at Clemson University HFH (S.C.) are hosting a seven-house blitz build that began in February. The project, which grew out of Clemson’s annual tradition of building a Habitat house to celebrate the school’s homecoming, will involve about 4,000 students in addition to Pickens County HFH and the city of Clemson. Clemson construction coordinator Wayne Watson credits the campus chapter’s regular meetings and guest speakers such as homeowners, affiliate staff and city officials with helping attract committed students from many campus organizations. “[Affiliate staff] can rest assured that their efforts to alleviate substandard housing are working, and there are sympathetic students who will be carrying on this wonderful work until it is no longer needed.”

New affiliates -- HFH of Howard County, Columbia, Md.; Jackson County HFH, Ripley, W.Va.

New campus chapter -- Madeira School, McLean, Va.



MID-AMERICA
(Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana): Jim Crowley, PO Box 60410, Nashville, TN 37206, (615) 254-6300.

An arsonist’s fire proved no match for the community spirit and hard work of HFH of Greater Canton (Ohio) supporters. In late September, a partially constructed Habitat house was destroyed just a week after local churches blitz built the house as part of a revival event. The volunteers came back, along with new volunteers who had heard of the tragedy through the media, and rebuilding began. Thanks to extra hours of hard work, the homeowner was able to move in before Christmas. “Out of the ashes, we’re doing something good,” says Jane Schrader, office coordinator. “God can turn things around.”

To raise awareness of Habitat’s mission, HFH Ashtabula County (Ohio) hosted a “Fall Feed-In” at a local highway rest area in October. With the permission of the state department of transportation, affiliate supporters offered free drinks, snacks and information about Habitat for Humanity to travelers. About $600 was collected in donations.

New affiliate -- HFH of Wood County, Bowling Green, Ohio.



MIDDLE STATES
(Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas): Joe Gatlin, PO Box 3157, Waco, TX 76707, (800) 682-1980.

An association of marketing students at Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, Neb., teamed up with the Lancaster County HFH to take on the challenge of building a Habitat house from fund raising to construction. The students broke ground on the house in late September and started framing in early November. “Many of the seniors in the school are using the build to meet community service hours for citizenship issue classes,” says Tiffany Baum, vice president of communications for the marketing club. “Most of the students, however, are simply excited to build the house.”

New affiliates -- Cushing HFH, Cushing, Okla.; HFH of Miller County, Lake Ozark, Mo.; HFH of Navasota, Navasota, Texas.

New campus chapter -- Whitney High School, Whitney, Texas.



MIDWEST
(Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin): Bill Ward, 1920 S. Laflin St., Chicago, IL 60608, (800) 643-7845.

Michigan First Lady Michele Engler wrapped up a week of building throughout the state at Marquette County HFH’s Women Build house last summer. Engler and her crew raised the walls of the house in just a few hours, an accomplishment made possible through a partnership with a local correctional facility whose offenders prefabricated the wall panels.



MOUNTAIN STATES
(Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming): Bruce Petersen, 1005 N.W. Galveston, Bend, OR 97701, (800) 365-4637.

Despite four inches of snow and near-freezing temperatures, hundreds of HFH of Boulder Valley (Colo.) volunteers turned out to manage aid stations and direct traffic for the Boulder Backroad Marathon in September. About 1,700 runners showed up to run either a full or half-marathon and participate in an event that raised about $10,000 for the affiliate. Race director Lesley Kinder intends for the race to be an annual event to benefit the affiliate.



NORTHEAST
(Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont): Lisa Reitz, 200 S. Church St., West Chester, PA 19382, (800) 434-5463.

Paterson HFH (N.J.) dedicated its 100th house in September. Executive director Barbara Bunn says the affiliate, which began building in 1984, plans to increase productivity to build 15 houses a year. Most of the houses are concentrated in one neighborhood, making community development a priority.

Sixty students raised more than $175,000 for HFH of Greater New Haven (Conn.) through last summer’s Habitat Bicycle Challenge. There were two groups of riders, one taking a route through the upper United States and ending in Seattle and the other taking a lower route and ending in San Francisco. The bicycle challenge, which began in 1994, not only raises enough money for four Habitat houses, but also raises awareness of Habitat’s mission across the country.

New campus chapters -- Elms College, Chicopee, Mass.; State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, N.Y.



SOUTHEAST
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico): Dick Weber, 226 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202-3502, (800) 637-9532.

In an effort to build a safe and stable environment for children as well as build houses, Beaches Habitat in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., has organized a Prep Club for children of Habitat homeowners. The Prep Club promotes academic success by offering cash prizes for perfect attendance and improvements in students’ GPAs. There is another incentive for students to work hard: One of the affiliate’s supporters has created an endowment for Beaches Habitat children for several four-year, full scholarships at the University of North Florida. The scholarships include tuition, housing, books and parking.

New affiliate -- Franklin County HFH, Lavonia, Ga.

New campus chapter -- Spelman College, Atlanta, Ga.



WEST
(Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada): Dick Kuegerman, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 286-8960.

HFH Tucson teamed up with 13 local building and construction companies in October to blitz build a Habitat house at the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association Fall Home and Garden Show. Much of the construction, including pre-stucco and some drywall, was completed at the show before moving the house to its permanent location. Contractors, subcontractors and students from five local high schools volunteered their time to build the house.


— by Rebekah Graydon


Habitat Around the World


AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST
(Harry Goodall, PO Box 11179, Hatfield, Pretoria 0083, South Africa, 011-27-12-430-9200)

Considering the economic health and wealth of the United States, it can be hard to relate to the daily difficulties that face Habitat affiliates in Africa, where many of the world’s poorest nations are located. Even so, affiliates continue to build. In recent months, a shortage of electricity has driven up the price of cement in Ethiopia, creating shortages for affiliates. Not to be hindered in its building efforts, HFH Ethiopia quickly arranged for affiliates to buy cement directly from the factory. In Ghana, a rapid devaluation of the currency due to inflation also has created an increase in the cost of building materials, especially cement. Though this situation has impacted house costs, Ghana HFH was recognized as the “Best Program” by HFHI’s Africa/ Middle East area office. And in Zimbabwe, a record number of houses were constructed between last July and September, in spite of political and economic problems that threaten the stability of the country.


ASIA/PACIFIC
(Steve Weir, Ocean Tower 1, 22nd floor, 170/68, Soi Sukhumvit 16, Rachadapisek, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand, 011-66-2-261-3270, office@hfhap.org)

In a new partnership, Habitat for Humanity Philippines and Jollibee Foods Corp. are creating opportunities to involve more people from around the country. Among other efforts, coin cans for donations have been distributed to the corporation’s 743 Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich and Delifrance outlets throughout the Philippines. Additionally, some 4,000 JFC employees are donating a portion of their salaries to HFH Philippines for house building.


CANADA
(David Beckerson, 40 Albert St., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3S2, (519) 885-4565, hfhc@sentex.net)

Like most Habitat for Humanity affiliates, HFH Waterloo Region in Ontario relies on the efforts of volunteers both for building and for behind-the-scenes work. Most volunteers want to help alleviate poverty housing in their community. Many, such as Dave Durling, also enjoy working with others: “What I’ve liked best are the people I worked with, from police officers to teachers, from professionals to students—all have the same goal of giving a deserving family a place to call home.”


EUROPE/COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES
(Ian Walkden, HFHI, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709, (229) 924-6935, ext. 2137 or 2495, Europe/CIS_Area_Office@habitat.org.)

Facing the housing need in Poland requires a strong constitution, as HFH Poland well knows. According to recent statistics, nearly half of all dwellings there were built prior to 1944. The result? Much of that housing has no kitchens or toilet facilities. Further, it is estimated that some 1.5 million new housing units are needed to solve the nation’s shelter needs. But progress is being made, with HFH Gliwice completing several new row houses, and new affiliates organized in several other cities. “We all know that the housing needs in our country are tremendous,” says Jerzy Buzek, prime minister of Poland, “but Habitat offers more than a house—it can kindle people’s determination and faith that life can be changed.”


LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
(Stephen Mickler, SJO-2268, Unit 101-C, P. O. Box 025216, Miami, FL 33102-5216, 011- 506-296-8120, LatinAmCar@habitat.org)

HFH Guatemala celebrated a milestone in September, when it completed its 7,000th house built since 1979. In Alta Verapaz, heavy rains slowed construction, but they didn’t dampen the spirits of the Chun Tzi family, the homeowners of the 7,000th house. Instead, they worked early in the morning, and at night by candlelight to finish their house by the end of “Construyendo Sobre la Fe” or Building on Faith week. Their house dedication was right on schedule, with church leaders, Habitat staff, volunteers and donors in attendance.


— by Milana McLead



Habitat Affiliate Countries— Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Bangladesh · Belize · Bolivia · Botswana · Brazil · Burundi · Canada · Central African Republic · Chile · China · Colombia · Costa Rica · Democratic Republic of Congo · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Ethiopia · Fiji · Germany · Ghana · Great Britain · Guatemala · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Hungary · India · Indonesia · Ivory Coast · Jamaica · Japan · Kenya · Kyrgyzstan · Liberia · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Mexico · Mongolia · Mozambique · Nepal · Netherlands · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Nigeria · Northern Ireland · Pakistan · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Republic of Korea · Romania · Samoa · Singapore · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Sri Lanka · Tanzania · Thailand · Trinidad and Tobago · Uganda · United States, Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico · Venezuela · Vietnam · Zambia · Zimbabwe


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, February/March 2001.
This article may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
©2001 Habitat for Humanity International